SOWEGA Council on Aging partners with Flint River Fresh for July market

ALBANY, Ga. — The change in life due to the COVID-19 pandemic certainly hasn’t been easy, but for senior citizens in the Good Life City, it’s been difficult to consistently put food on the table.

That’s why the Southwest Georgia Council on Aging is teaming up with Flint River Fresh to lend a hand.

“It evolved through the work that Flint River Fresh has been doing since April the 4th related to COVID. So we’ve been going around, delivering hot meals, and fresh produce to those affected by the pandemic,” says Flint River Fresh Executive Director, Fredando Jackson.

With restaurants re-opening, SOWEGA scaled back to just fresh produce instead of hot meals.

During the month of July the council on aging in partnership with Flint River Fresh will be setting up the chance to give fresh produce to senior citizens without needing to leave their cars.

Jackson tells us, “We just felt that since there was still a need in our senior community, that still needed. Prior to COVID, since we were working with SOWEGA, doing a market at the center. And we had to stop because of the nature of COVID.”

In addition to lending a hand to local senior citizens, the partnership between SOWEGA and Flint River Fresh will also benefit local farms whose seasons may have been cut short.

“We’re helping our local farmers that were also affected by the pandemic. They already had plants in the ground, they already had a harvest planned. So we wanted to make sure they had an outlet so their hard work wasn’t in vain,” says Jackson.

As Flint River Fresh begins to line 5th Avenue during the month, it’s another step towards helping seniors accommodate as precautions continue.